Mike Parker: Community concern gave birth to North Lenoir VFD

A young George Smith Jr. in his turnout gear

Shortly after Christmas in 1964, a kitchen fire spread in to blaze that ravaged Winston Wheeler's home. At the time, the City of Kinston provided fire protection for county residents, but only one fire truck – Fire Engine No. 3 – was dedicated for use in fighting fires in the county.

            Winston approached his good friend with an idea: the northern portion of Lenoir County needed its own community fire service. His friend, George Smith Jr., agreed. Together they summoned a meeting of men who, at that time, were known collectively as "The Hullwood Gang." They met at a barn owned by Floyd Gray Jr. – the location that now houses Elite Welding.

The North Lenoir Volunteer Fire Department was born on February 2, 1965, the direct result of that meeting. George Smith Jr. was elected the first Fire Chief, and Winston Wheeler served as the department's president. George Jr. was only 23 at the time, but he was such an effective leader that the department elected him, by secret ballot, as Fire Chief for 20 straight years.

Shortly after its organization, the department acquired its first fire truck – a 1942 Chevrolet pumper built initially for military use. The North Lenoir department purchased the vehicle from the Blackman's Crossroad Volunteer Fire Department in Johnston County for $800.

C. Felix Harvey donated an old gas truck to the department, and the firefighter turned the gas truck into a 1,000-gallon water wagon. These two vehicles were the foundation of the department's firefighting equipment.

In 1967, the department purchased its first new fire truck, a GMC vehicle, from American Fire Apparatus Company for $17,500. That fire truck is still used in parades today.

For several years the wash-pit of the G.J. Smith & Sons Store, at the site of the present Smith's Café complex, housed for these vehicles. George Jr. approached his father about open land across the street from the store. He wanted to use the land as the site for the first station. George Smith Sr. donated the land for the first station with the stipulation that ownership would revert to the family if the land ever ceased to house the fire station.

In 1968, the department moved its material and equipment to its new fire station. The new station had three bays, no meeting room, and a dirt floor. The station did not even have a back door.  A piece of plywood covered the hole left of a door.

From the time the department began in February 1965 until February 1969, George Smith Sr. ran the store while George Jr. worked at the Swift Meat Packing Plant. When George Jr. came to run the family store, he partnered with Dee Barrow to established Smith & Barrow Store. Both were active in North Lenoir Volunteer Fire Department.

Starting a fire department was a massive undertaking. Firefighters needed equipment, both personal and departmental. Since voters did not approve the North Lenoir VFD Tax District until 1980, members of the department, their families, and their friends had to raise every penny of funding. The firefighters typically provided their own turn-out gear.

Funding the fire department was another matter. Department members, families, and friends organized fundraising events. They hosted barbeques and turkey shoots. They sold peanuts, and they conducted door-to-door solicitations.

They also hosted country music shows. J.B. Ham of WRNS radio used his Nashville connections to bring Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Hank Snow, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Crystal Gayle to Kinston to generate dollars for the department. Jerry Clower also performed here.

In the end, voters approved a tax district to fund the fire department. Overwhelming voter support provided the department with a stable source of income. Throughout these early years of struggle and development, George Smith Jr. was at the department’s helm because, as he told me, “The fire department was my passion.”

The young man elected the first Fire Chief turns 80 today. The fire department is still his passion. His motto today is: “Growing older … but still here.” If you would like to stop by and give him a personal “thank you” for his service to the North Lenoir community, stop by Smith’s Café any time during lunch, Tuesday through Friday.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.